God’s people throughout history have always used the medium of music to express their praise, worship, and gratitude to God.

And so it was when Israel’s fourth judge, Deborah, the “stout-hearted woman,” reflected on a glorious victory over the Canaanite Confederacy “against all odds” more than three millennia ago, the details of which are recorded in Judges, chapter four. The next chapter provides a record of the song of praise that she wrote and sang on that occasion.

The last verse—really the chorus—of the song is Judges 5:31: “So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.”

In essence, Deborah is declaring that in every contest between God and man, between good and evil, the final score is always the same: “God wins, and His enemies lose!” So the question that begs to be asked of every one of us is: “Which side am I on?”

Many years after Deborah’s song, another song writer, Maltbie Babcock, reminded himself and all of us that, “Though the wrong seems oft’ so strong, God is the Ruler yet.” A few years after that, Eugene M. Bartlett gave us his musical reminder of “Victory in Jesus”:

I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory, And I heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea; About the angels singing, and the old redemption story, And some sweet day I’ll sing up there the song of victory.

So the question remains: “Who is on the Lord’s side?”

And that is the title of this sixth and final episode in the series, “Stout-Hearted Men and Women: Studies in the Book of Judges.”

Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

It is significant that the longest book in the Bible is a songbook, referring, of course, to the book of Psalms in the Old Testament, which is a collection of songs of praise written by various men (and possibly women) of God to be sung to His glory.

It is also significant that there are so many examples in Scripture of God’s people “breaking into song” in response to demonstrations of God’s greatness and goodness on their behalf.

And so it is in the book of Judges when, against all odds, God delivered Israel from twenty years of oppression at the hands of the Canaanites. When the dust settled after the heat of battle, Deborah the Judge composed lyrics and music for a song of praise.

Though we don’t have the tune, we do have the words to that song recorded in Judges, chapter five.

And so, let’s enjoy and be challenged by these words in this fifth in our series, “Stout-Hearted Men and Women: Studies in the Book Judges,” an episode entitled simply, “Deborah’s Song.”

Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.

There are those who avoid reading and studying the Old Testament due to the misguided opinion that it is boring and irrelevant. The current episode of “Ancient Words, Modern Message” will certainly demonstrate that such a thought could not be farther from the truth.

This portion of the Book of Judges recounts what might well be considered one of the most intriguing and dramatic scenes to be found among the narratives of Israel’s many conflicts with their enemies in the nations surrounding them.

And yet, the two principal players in this scene are not battling warriors, but a sleeping general and a woman with camping gear!

Out of this incident comes yet again a reminder that God delights in using the most ordinary of people and the most humble of instruments to accomplish His plans, so that there can be no doubt as to the source of success.

With this in mind, let’s turn to the fourth chapter of the Book of Judges to meet another of the “Stout-Hearted Men and Women” in this fourth study in the series, an episode we call “The Hammer of Justice in the Hand of the Brave."

Thank you for listening to Ancient Words, Modern Message. You can expect episodes twice a month on Monday. Ancient Words, Modern Message is supported by Hebrew Christian Fellowship. To learn more about our ministry, or to ask a question, contact HCFellowship4819@gmail.com. We might just answer your question on a future episode of Ancient Words, Modern Message. If you know a person that you think would benefit from this teaching, please share it with them. And if you’d like to support Ancient Words, Modern Message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your input helps us make the podcast even better and reach new listeners. Ancient Words, Modern Message is produced by Studio D Podcast Production and hosted by Rev. Roger Wambold, Director of Hebrew Christian Fellowship.